Inter Milan striker Lukaku talks openly about early retirement: What am I doing to my body?

Posted Friday, May 26, 2023 by Tribalfootball.com

Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku admits he's considered early retirement due to injury problems.

Lukaku is on-loan at Inter from Chelsea and will return after the Champions League final.

“I wasn't happy anymore in England. I wanted something new. That's why I left. I wanted something new," Lukaku said of his first season with Inter in the 'One for All' documentary.

“My head just wasn't there anymore. I didn't feel myself evolving as a person. I was done. That's why I left England, I wasn't happy and I couldn't function.

“And then I thought, okay, where now? Italy. I remember the day, signing for Inter. I landed, and the people, the weather, and the food… My family was good there and I thought this is it, I'm good.

“I knew from day one that we were going to be champions. The training sessions were so… Everyone was driven. I had a drive. I felt I had gone to the next level, that would help me for the next season.

“I thought we did it, Romelu, you really did it. Sometimes you just need a moment like that in your life, being a businessman, a doctor, an artist. That one song, that one goal. Hopefully everyone has that moment in their life that you think okay, this is where I want to be. That was for me when I thought, I'm good.

“I remember showing my emotions on the pitch for the first time. Real emotions of joy, super happy."

Of his injury-plagued return to Inter this season, Lukaku revealed his injury concerns.

“What people don't know is that I tore my hamstring behind the knee in August while training for the game against Cremonese. It was the first time I stood still in six months and I couldn't really play. That really made me think. Maybe I need to rehabilitate more, so I can continue to play longer.

“That's the downside of starting young. At some point, you need to call it a day. I will not beat around the bush, that's when I think hmm… I'm turning 30 this summer. It's been 13 years. Some players don't make 13 years. I've got 100 caps, I scored so many goals. I've done all these things.

“One of my partners Eden, he has similar injuries. I love football, but is this much football good for the body? And for your mental health? Maybe those three or four days in September will do me good. Injections, treatments to keep playing, I've done it all and I carry the consequences to this day. It makes me think.

“I know I'm 102kg and sprinting all the time, I get kicked and such, but I am back in training the next day. I think, do I need to drop anything?"